Guide to Tire Treadwear Ratings

Treadwear ratings help answer one of the most important questions when buying tires: How long will they last? While not a guarantee, the ratings offer a useful way to compare the expected life of different tires and whether a tire’s price lines up with its durability. In this guide, we break down what treadwear numbers mean, how they’re tested, and how to use treadwear numbers when shopping for tires.

Tire Tread Meaning 

Tire tread is the part of a tire that includes the rubber that makes direct contact with the road. As you drive on tires, the rubber slowly wears away — that’s the tread wearing away. Treadwear, then, refers to the expected life of a tire. 

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) established the tire treadwear rating system back in the 1970s to help tire buyers understand the complicated world of passenger vehicle tires. The UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) rating system for grading tires describes treadwear, temperature and traction. 

>>Learn more about UTQG tire ratings.

In this guide, we explain treadwear ratings and how you may use them to buy tires.

Tire Treadwear Rating Explained

A tire’s treadwear number shows how it performed in tests against a control tire after 7,200 miles on a government test track — but things get murky from there. Tire makers, not the government, do the testing and assign the ratings. They report the results to the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

To get the treadwear rating, manufacturers test the tire against a control tire rated at 100. A tire rated 300 should wear three times slower than the 100-rated tire.

Tire tread rating simply means that when a tire was tested against a control tire, its tread wore two, three, four or more times slower than the standard it was tested against.

Treadwear and Mileage Explained 

How does the treadwear rating translate to miles? It doesn’t.

If a tire is marked with 480 treadwear, for example, how many miles will it get? No tire dealer worth its weight in rubber will tell you how many miles any tire will get. There are many factors that affect a tire’s expected life in terms of mileage. 

Treadwear can be affected by:

1. Tire design: The quality of the rubber, the design of the tread, and a variety of other factors that go into tire design all affect how long the tread will last. 
2. Driver habit: The tires of a driver who doesn’t drive aggressively or brake suddenly will last longer than an aggressive driver who slams on his or her brakes. 
3. Climate: Severe weather conditions are harder on tires. People who live in very hot climates, very cold climates and very rainy, snowy and icy climates might find they replace tires more often than people who live in mild climates.
4. Road conditions: Road surfaces (pavement versus rocky terrain) and road hazards (potholes and debris) affect your tires. Smooth roads are kinder to tires.
5. Tire care: Check your tire pressure monthly to make sure your tires are properly inflated; make sure your wheels are aligned, rotated and balanced as the manufacturer’s warranty requires.
6. Vehicle load: Heavier vehicles and loads put more stress on tires (and vehicles), increasing treadwear. Read more about load index.
7. Speed ratings: High-speed-rated tires tend to wear faster becasue they have softer rubber and higher heat resistance. Learn more about tire speed ratings.
8. Vehicle suspension: A vehicle's suspension distributes vehicle weight across all wheels and tires, so when it goes bad, that can cause tires to wear unevenly.   

Tire Treadwear Chart

We analyzed a database of more than 67,000 makes, models and tread types of tires to compile a list of average UTQG treadwear ratings for 20 categories of tires.

This tire treadwear rating chart is organized by the tire tread type (alphabetical from all season to winter) and the average UTQG treadwear in each category. We’ve also included the lowest UTQG rating in the category and the highest to give you an idea of the range of ratings in every category. 

Think of the following tire wear chart numbers as a tread life expectancy chart. Tread life, however, is a combination of time and miles driven, impacted by all the factors that affect treadwear. As you shop for tires, you can use this chart to compare industry averages, lows and highs against the tires you're considering.

Highest Treadwear Rating

The highest treadwear rating is 860, for Hankook Kinergy PT H737 touring all-season tires. Does that mean these are better tires than, say, Michelin Defender T+H which has a UTQG rating of 820? Both are quality all-season tires that reduce hydroplaning, handle well and reduce road noise. The Michelin Defender T+H tends to have a better wet braking distance than Hankook; however, Hankook tends to do better with rolling resistance than the Michelins.

So, what does that mean? When comparing treadwear of 860 to 820, you’re likely splitting hairs. You’re going to get a good all-season touring tire from both models; it just depends on what is most important AND whether your size is available! Hankook’s Kinergy PTs have more sizes to choose from than Michelin’s Defenders. 

Treadwear Mileage Chart

Beware of any treadwear mileage chart that lists the various treadwear ratings (0 to over 800) alongside predicted expected miles. Manufacturers do not say how many miles a tire will last, because tire mileage depends on not only the tire’s materials but also your driving habits, climate and road conditions, and how well you care for your vehicle and its tires.

Where to Find Treadwear Ratings on Tires

To find tire wear rating codes, enter the make, year, and model of your vehicle, and Tire Agent’s tire matching technology will recommend several tire options. As you compare tires, select the SPECIFICATIONS tab. Here you’ll see the treadwear rating.

You can also find tread grade on tires by looking on their sidewalls. Look for the TREADWEAR marking, which should look something like the illustration below (360). 

Other Tire Rankings

Should treadwear ratings affect your purchase decisions? Yes, but you should also consider:

• Warranty
• Road noise and comfort
• Fuel efficiency
• Load capacity, especially if you haul heavy loads
• Seasonality
• Speed rating, especially if you drive a high-performance vehicle

We unpack all of these factors in a related guide, 6 Things to Know When Buying New Tires.

FAQs About the Treadwear Index

Does a higher number mean that the tire is better?

A higher number usually means the tire was made with a harder rubber compound, so it’s likely to last longer. The tradeoff is that harder rubber may not handle as well, especially in wet or cold conditions. So “better” depends on what you value in a tire.

So, what's the difference better a 400 vs 500 rated tire?

A 500-rated tire will be expected to last 25% longer than a 400-rated tire. Is there a big difference? Not really. Look at each tire's reviews on handling, road noise, warranty and other factors to help decide between tires with close ratings.   

Is there a connection between treadwear and mileage?

Treadwear ratings are relative, not absolute. A tire with a 400 rating should last twice as long as one rated 200, assuming both are driven under the same conditions. But the actual mileage varies by brand, vehicle, and how you drive.

For example, a tire with a 400 rating might last 40,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on usage. A 600-rated tire might reach 70,000 miles or more, but only if it’s properly maintained.

So yes, higher treadwear usually means more miles — but it's not a guarantee. It's more of a general guide than a hard rule.

Is a warranty an indication of how good treadwear is?

Not exactly. But you can look at the manufacturer’s warranty to get a rough idea of how long the tire might last. Generally, a longer mileage warranty (like 80,000 miles vs. 25,000) suggests the manufacturer expects the tire to last longer under normal driving conditions.

Whats a good treadwear rating?

What’s “good” depends on the driver. For someone with a newer vehicle and a long daily commute, a treadwear rating of 500 or higher might make sense. For an older car with over 100,000 miles, something under 500 could be fine.

Treadwear ratings don’t reflect quality — they just estimate how long a tire might last under normal driving conditions.

What tires have the highest treadwear rating?

Highway terrain and highway all season tires tend to have the highest treadwear ratings. This is because they're built for longevity, not off-road grip or high-speed performance. They tend to have harder compounds that are designed to handle longer distances on paved roads with minimal wear. You could think of them as commuter tires.

Why do street racing tires have low treadwear ratings?

Street-legal racing tires have very low treadwear ratings because racing tires are designed not for longevity but for performance and speed. 

Should I avoid tires with treadwear ratings under 200?

That depends on how you drive and where. High-performance and track tires are built for grip, not for longevity. If you're a dailly commuter and want tire that last, then yes, avoid a tire with under 200.

Is there really a big difference between a 180 and a 200, or a 280 and a 320, for example?

The difference between treadwear ratings that are close like that is usually minimal. If you're comparing a treadwear rating of 420 against a treadwear rating of 440, it's a toss-up. If you're comparing a 420 treadwear tire against a 580 treadwear tire, that's a bigger gap. The larger number is likely to have a longer lifespan.

ID 189065209 | Serhii Yaremenko | Dreamstime.com